Google Chrome for iOS Review: Impressions One Week Later

Share & comment

Google Chrome for iOS Review: Impressions One Week Later

Share & comment

The epic battle between Apple and Google continues, as the latter released its Chrome browser in the App Store last week. Which will emerge victorious in the battle for iOS browser supremacy? Our review will attempt to answer this question, after testing and using Chrome for the past week.

Upon launching the application for the first time and surpassing the obligatory “take a tour of the app” intro, the first thing I noticed is the impressive interface. The layout and feel of the app is very cool, almost futuristic. If this is Google’s attempt to make Chrome seem like the “next gen” browser, then they definitely nailed it.

The tabbed browsing interface is slick. Clicking the tab icon in the upper-right displays all open tabs in a filing cabinet type of style. This is referred to as the “tab switch” mode. From here you are to able flip through the open tabs as one would do when sorting through a filing cabinet.

Now on to my favourite feature – the ability to cycle between tabs using gestures. Using your finger, swipe to the right and left to cycle through the open tabs. To close a tab, swipe while in tab switch mode. These motions feel very fluid and natural. This functionality is definitely something Safari needs to adopt (errr I mean, “borrow”.)

Just like its desktop counterpart, Chrome for iOS also uses the address bar for both URL entry and search functionality, a feature that I’m a big fan of. Google refers to this as “Omnibox.” As you type into this box, Chrome will attempt to make some “highly relevant” suggestions on what you may be trying to type.

These suggestions are based on your bookmarks, search history, and “very probable” search results. This just makes so much more sense than Safari’s method of having two different boxes for these.

Chrome also goes “to the cloud”. Sign in with your Google account, and you’ll be able to sync your bookmarks, Omnibox data, and currently-open tabs, with Chrome on your other devices.

While this is a nifty feature, bookmark-syncing is something Safari already has (via iCloud,) and the syncing of tabs seems to solve a problem that doesn’t necessarily exist. I’m not sure why this is a useful feature?

According to this performance test conducted by MacLife, Safari tests much better in most of the major categories for speed. Google blames this on “platform specific technical specifications”. Sounds like an excuse to me!

So is Chrome really a viable replacement for Safari? The short answer is no, even despite all the slick features. The main reason being that iOS doesn’t allow any non-Safari browser to be the system default. Meaning all links opened from other apps – Mail, Twitter, etc. – will always still open in Safari. This lack of native OS support really hurts Chrome. (UPDATE: Unless your phone is jailbroken, of course. There is a Cydia tweak that allows you to change the default browser.)

Despite these cons, Chrome is the best secondary browser alternative to Safari, much to Apple’s chagrin. Some of the notable features may indeed be enough for some users to warrant the switch.

Share & comment

Apple’s sandboxing rules prevent Chrome on iOS from using the Nitro javascript engine, so that would legitimately explain the “platform specific technical specifications”.

Kyle

“platform specific technical specifications” isn’t just an excuse, it’s a real limitation of UIWebView. It doesn’t get access to the same JavaScript engine as native Safari and Apple’s App Store rules won’t let Google include their own.

I’ve switched to Chrome and am using BrowserChooser Cydia app to make it my default.

So far no issues, I love it

Meatplow

A well written article point rabit (I mean, avid) iPhone users in the right direction. Google apps on the iPhone are great, but without default iOS integration it will always be an app that is more forced than seamless.

I use ChromePortable at work (PC, no admin rights), Chrome at home (PC,full install), and now Chrome iOs. The syncing between devices is reaaally handy personally and it’s great to be able to see what things I was viewing on different machines.

Mike McCormick

That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification! This fact further elaborates my point that due to native OS compatibility issues, Chrome (or any other browser) will never be able to completely replace Safari. That is unless Apple loosens on this policy. (Not likely!)

Mike McCormick

Well of course, jailbreaking cures all right!? 🙂 I didn’t write my review from the perspective of a jailbroken phone, but your point is well taken. That certainly bypasses my major beef with the browser and how it integrates with iOS.

which is exactly why i’m going to switch my 4S for a Galaxy Nexus soon. I’ve loved my 3G, 4, and now 4S but things like not being able to choose my default browser are just p*ssing me off. Atomic Web Browser is by far the best browser in iOS. Its best feature is full screen browsing. When i use the web on a small display, i need every pixel i can get. why waste such valuable space with an address bar when you aren’t using it. there are dozens of other features that make atomic the best.

2.) “Google blames this on “platform specific technical specifications”. Sounds like an excuse to me! As Bishbulb said, its a limitation imposed by Apple, not an issue on their part.

excaliburca

Already am… much better than Mobile Safari, epically the ability to have Chrome force a website to pull the full version rather than the mobile version of the site.

Mike McCormick

Hey Mark – thanks for the comment. I’ve addressed both these things in replies to earlier comments. I’ve also updated the article to elude to jailbreaking as a solution. Keep in mind though that the majority of iPhone users do not have jailbroken

Mike McCormick

Thanks for the comment! Of course you are assuming that everyone has a jailbroken phone and that is certainly not the case. The majority of iPhone users do not.

For me, a browser won’t break me away from the iPhone. The integration and overall user experience is superior to all other devices (IMO) simply because of iOS. Android certainly has some very cool features, but having used a Galaxy already, it just feels line there’s something missing over the iPhone.

Ben I agree that Atomic is cool, but I still prefer Chrome. I dunno, pixel space not that important to me. What sites are you viewing that require the full screen? Most websites are optimized for mobile anyways.

But, I suppose if this is a very important feature for you, then I can see your point.